Around-the-globe mission

09/09/2017

This handout photo taken on Aug 17, 2017 and released on Sept 5 by the Indian Navy shows Indian women naval officers posing for a picture in front of a model of a yacht in New Delhi, promoting their upcoming effort to sail around the world. (AFP)

A team of six naval officers are starting a historic and gruelling around-the-world mission on Sunday — the first circumnavigation of the globe by an Indian all-female crew. Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, who is leading the voyage which will begin in the western state of Goa, told AFP the project was “revolutionary” in bringing women to the helm and would inspire others in the country.

In recent years, the Indian navy has sought to open its doors to women to take on more challenging roles, with the latest project winning the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who urged the crew to “project India’s capabilities and strengths across the world”.

The navy commissioned a 17-metre (56-foot) yacht “Tarini” in February for the mission, with the crew kicking off preparations for the voyage in 2014. “For me it’s a matter of conquering a feat that has been achieved by a chosen few,” Lieutenant Commander Pratibha Jamwal told AFP. “It’s not been an easy journey in terms of preparation but as they say ‘the more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in.